Andrei Grechko

Andrei Antonovich Grechko (October 17, 1903 – April 26, 1976) was a Soviet general, Marshal of the Soviet Union, and Minister of Defense. After the war, Grechko was the Commander in Chief of Kiev Military District, until 1953. On April 12, 1967, Grechko was made the Minister of Defense, taking over for Rodion Malinovsky. Grechko served in this capacity until his death in 1976. Grechko was an active member in the Communist Party, and was a member of the Politburo. As Minister of Defense, Grechko helped modernize the Soviet Army, and was greatly responsible for maintaining the strength of the Soviet state. The urn containing his ashes is buried by the Kremlin Wall Necropolis.

At the present stage, the historic function of the Soviet Armed Forces is not restricted merely to their function in defending our motherland and the other socialist countries. In its foreign policy activity the Soviet state actively and purposefully opposes the export of counter-revolution and the policy of oppression, supports the national liberation struggle, and resolutely resists imperialist aggression in whatever distant region of our planet it may appear. The party and Soviet Government rely on the country's economic and defense might in fulfilling these tasks...The development of the external functions of the socialist armies is a natural process. It will continue.

The Communist Party and the Soviet Government display constant concern to strengthen the country's defensive might and raise the combat readiness of the Armed Forces.

Quoted in "Soviet Civil Defense" - Page 5 - by Leon Gouré - 1971

We do not have the right to forget that reactionary imperialism exists and its forces actively operate in the world, that they encourage the arms race and that they try to restore the spirit of the Cold War.